The visiting United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression supports the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in its advocacy to decriminalize libel.
This was disclosed by CHR Chairperson Richard P. Palpal-latoc, who said UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan showed keen interest in the state of media freedom and protection in the country during their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
According to Palpal-latoc, Khan asked them about the safety of media personnel, issues of red-tagging, the decriminalization of libel, and other legislations that affect freedom of expression.
"We are advocating (the decriminalization of libel), and I think she supports it as well," he said.
As Khan collected information for her report, the CHR shared with her the cases they have investigated concerning the human rights violations committed against members of the media.
Palpal-latoc added that Khan was also curious about government efforts in addressing these human rights violations, and if appropriate measures have been undertaken to support freedom of press expression.
However, Khan kept close to heart her opinions regarding these issues as CHR officials will learn about her findings on the Philippines, together with that of the rest of the world, when she presents these during the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025.
To recall, the CHR has voiced concerns and conducted its own probe regarding the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa, who was shot dead in Las Piñas City on the eve of Oct. 3, 2022.
Mabasa was on his way to his host his "Lapid Fire" program on DWBL 1242 when he was gunned down by two unidentified armed suspects. As Ka Percy's family members sought to hold the perpetrators accountable, they received vicious death threats.
TV5 journalist Ed Lingao and host Lourd de Veyra likewise received death threats after Ka Percy's death, since an individual named Seth Corteza reportedly tweeted that Lingao and de Veyra would allegedly be the next victims of assassination. Corteza was referencing the fatal ambush of Mabasa.
Another radio broadcaster, Florencio "Flo" Hervias of the blocktime program “Banwa Binag-binaga” in DYRI Radio Mindanao Network, was beaten on Oct. 7, 2022 by unknown perpetrators who pretended to be sanitation workers. Police reports said that they mauled Hervias in broad daylight as he was leaving his workplace in La Paz District, Iloilo City.
The CHR also investigated the brazen killing of radio broadcaster Cresenciano Aldovino Bunduquin in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last May 31, 2023.
The CHR is one of the government institutions that Khan visited in order to assess the country's compliance to its human rights obligations. The CHR added that representatives from civil society organizations and private companies also took part in separate engagements with Khan as arranged by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, alongside field visits in Baguio and Cebu.